Post by radha on Jul 2, 2012 8:05:02 GMT 5.5
OM SRI GURUPYO NAMAHA:,RESPECTFUL PRANAMS TO SRI KANCHI MAHA PERIVA
RESPECTFUL PRANAMS TO ALL ACHARYAS OF SRINGERI SANKARA MADAM
Madurai: MAY 21-30, 2012
In the Ancient Temple City of Madurai
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji arrived in Madurai on the evening of May 21 to a joyous reception. The Jagadguru had Darshan of Vinayaka in the temple adjoining the Bypass Road and was taken in a procession to Sri Sringeri Shankara Math, Bypass Road, Madurai. The Jagadguru had Darshan of Ganapati, Adi Shankara and Goddess Sharada at the Math and graced the public function organized by the devotees to welcome Him. Dhuli Pada Puja was performed by Dharmadhikari Sri Sankaranarayanan. Devotees were seen in an exuberant mood as the Jagadguru was gracing the Math in the Bypass Road for the first time since its construction. As if to acknowledge the cheers of the devotees, the clouds opened and rain poured cooling the entire region.
Arriving at the ancient city after twenty years, the Jagadguru in His Anugraha Bhashanam expressed happiness over being in Madurai that is sanctified by the divine presence of Meenakshi and Sundareshwara. The Jagadguru said that Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada sang hymns such as the Meenakshi Shatakam in praise of the Goddess, and it has been a tradition of the Acharyas of Sringeri to come to Madurai. The Jagadguru noted that His Guru, Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji had observed Shankara Jayanti in the city in 1958 and had subsequently made many visits. The Jagadguru also noted that He Himself had observed both the Chaturmasya Vrata and the Navaratri Celebrations in 1987 in Madurai and had again come in 1992 when He had laid the foundation stone for this Math at Bypass Road.
The Jagadguru pointed out that not everything envisioned by man takes place. So even though many devotees over the years felt that the Acharya would come earlier, He had come now because Ishwara Sankalpa had made this happen at this time. The Jagadguru mentioned that during His stay in Madurai, He would observe the Aradhana of His Parapara Guru, Jagadguru Sri Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji. The Jagadguru then spoke briefly about His Parapara Guru stating that He was a Mahatapasvi, a Nrisimha Upasaka, and was capable of both blessing the good and subduing evil.
The Jagadguru expressed wonder that about 150 years back, when transportation was not easy, His Parapara Guru during His 62 year-reign as the Shankaracharya of Sringeri, had undertaken Vijaya Yatras all over the nation. One of the Namavalis of Jagadguru Sri Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji is द्वारकादिमहाक्षेत्रयात्रासन्तुष्टमानसः Such was His personality that He felt joy and peace in going to far-away Kshetrams as Dwaraka.
The Jagadguru then spoke about the need for securing God’s Grace. Even though people have experienced that only Ishwara Sankalpa brings about the fructification of efforts, they have a feeling tinged with pride, “Why can I not obtain all I wish for?”. But all that you wish for does not come to be. Such an ability can be observed only in Mahatmas such as our Parapara Guru. These Mahatmas have total sense control and perform intense Tapas. Bhartruhari has compared the Tapas and meditation performed by both Mahatmas and ordinary people. While Tapas is God-centric in the case of Mahatmas, it is oriented towards the acquisition of wealth in the case of of others – ध्यातं वित्तमहर्निशं नियमितप्राणैर्न शम्भोः पदम् ।
If we have to become a recipient of the Grace of God, we have to remain devoted. Even though the Lord says that He is impartial and that He shows no favouritism, He also says that He resides in him who serves Him devotedly.
समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु न मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रियः ।
ये भजन्ति मां भक्त्या मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम् ॥
Hence we must intensify our Bhakti. We are not to engage in Puja for others to take note and praise us. Rather, as the Lord instructs us in the Gita, it has to be done as an offering to God – यज्ञार्थात् कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः । The Jagadguru also taught that there is no point in asking for various boons during the Sankalpa for one has to take many births to experience when the boons fructify. This only leads to bondage.
जन्मदुःखं जरादुःखं जायादुःखं पुनः पुनः ।
संसारसागरः दुःखं तस्मात् जाग्रत जाग्रत ॥
To take birth, one has to undergo a lot of suffering. In His Shivaparadha Kshamapana Stotram, Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada talks about the extent of suffering while in the mother’s womb – आदौ कर्मप्रसङ्गात् कलयति कलुषं मातृकुक्षौ नितान्तम्. In old age, all those around you stop giving you respect because you are not earning (money) any more. These days, people even refuse to talk to them. It has to come to the extent that elderly parents are dropped off in old age homes to be taken care of. Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada talks of the neglect in old age thus –
यावद्वित्तोपार्जनसक्तः तावन्निजपरिवारो रक्तः ।
पश्चात् जीवति जर्जरदेहे वार्तां पृच्छति कोऽपि न गेहे ॥
Even people in wedded life talk about various difficulties that arise. Hence the entire Samsara is a bundle of suffering. That is why it is said that to avoid bondage, one must perform actions dedicating them to the Lord.
The Jagadguru expressed that while every man is ready to teach or give instructions to everyone else, no one is ready to practice. Man’s power to distinguish and reason has to be put to use. Otherwise, what is the use of having obtained this power having taken birth as a human? Hence it is not sufficient to keep talking. One must practice. Hence any worship or any act of Dharma should not be done for receiving praise from others. You will only get a temporary joy for having been mentioned by others or by the newspapers. You will not get Shreyas (spiritual welfare) out of it .
Hence we should perform the actions enjoined in the Shastras without any desire for fruits. A person who goes in this direction will be specially blessed. He strives selflessly with the notion of engaging in Ishwara Seva, Guru Seva and Samaja Seva, and the Lord’s Grace will fall on him bountifully.
Sri Kanchi Maha Periva Thiruvadigal Charanam
O.N. In case this message is not to find in this forum,kindly delete it
RESPECTFUL PRANAMS TO ALL ACHARYAS OF SRINGERI SANKARA MADAM
Madurai: MAY 21-30, 2012
In the Ancient Temple City of Madurai
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji arrived in Madurai on the evening of May 21 to a joyous reception. The Jagadguru had Darshan of Vinayaka in the temple adjoining the Bypass Road and was taken in a procession to Sri Sringeri Shankara Math, Bypass Road, Madurai. The Jagadguru had Darshan of Ganapati, Adi Shankara and Goddess Sharada at the Math and graced the public function organized by the devotees to welcome Him. Dhuli Pada Puja was performed by Dharmadhikari Sri Sankaranarayanan. Devotees were seen in an exuberant mood as the Jagadguru was gracing the Math in the Bypass Road for the first time since its construction. As if to acknowledge the cheers of the devotees, the clouds opened and rain poured cooling the entire region.
Arriving at the ancient city after twenty years, the Jagadguru in His Anugraha Bhashanam expressed happiness over being in Madurai that is sanctified by the divine presence of Meenakshi and Sundareshwara. The Jagadguru said that Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada sang hymns such as the Meenakshi Shatakam in praise of the Goddess, and it has been a tradition of the Acharyas of Sringeri to come to Madurai. The Jagadguru noted that His Guru, Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji had observed Shankara Jayanti in the city in 1958 and had subsequently made many visits. The Jagadguru also noted that He Himself had observed both the Chaturmasya Vrata and the Navaratri Celebrations in 1987 in Madurai and had again come in 1992 when He had laid the foundation stone for this Math at Bypass Road.
The Jagadguru pointed out that not everything envisioned by man takes place. So even though many devotees over the years felt that the Acharya would come earlier, He had come now because Ishwara Sankalpa had made this happen at this time. The Jagadguru mentioned that during His stay in Madurai, He would observe the Aradhana of His Parapara Guru, Jagadguru Sri Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji. The Jagadguru then spoke briefly about His Parapara Guru stating that He was a Mahatapasvi, a Nrisimha Upasaka, and was capable of both blessing the good and subduing evil.
The Jagadguru expressed wonder that about 150 years back, when transportation was not easy, His Parapara Guru during His 62 year-reign as the Shankaracharya of Sringeri, had undertaken Vijaya Yatras all over the nation. One of the Namavalis of Jagadguru Sri Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji is द्वारकादिमहाक्षेत्रयात्रासन्तुष्टमानसः Such was His personality that He felt joy and peace in going to far-away Kshetrams as Dwaraka.
The Jagadguru then spoke about the need for securing God’s Grace. Even though people have experienced that only Ishwara Sankalpa brings about the fructification of efforts, they have a feeling tinged with pride, “Why can I not obtain all I wish for?”. But all that you wish for does not come to be. Such an ability can be observed only in Mahatmas such as our Parapara Guru. These Mahatmas have total sense control and perform intense Tapas. Bhartruhari has compared the Tapas and meditation performed by both Mahatmas and ordinary people. While Tapas is God-centric in the case of Mahatmas, it is oriented towards the acquisition of wealth in the case of of others – ध्यातं वित्तमहर्निशं नियमितप्राणैर्न शम्भोः पदम् ।
If we have to become a recipient of the Grace of God, we have to remain devoted. Even though the Lord says that He is impartial and that He shows no favouritism, He also says that He resides in him who serves Him devotedly.
समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु न मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रियः ।
ये भजन्ति मां भक्त्या मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम् ॥
Hence we must intensify our Bhakti. We are not to engage in Puja for others to take note and praise us. Rather, as the Lord instructs us in the Gita, it has to be done as an offering to God – यज्ञार्थात् कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः । The Jagadguru also taught that there is no point in asking for various boons during the Sankalpa for one has to take many births to experience when the boons fructify. This only leads to bondage.
जन्मदुःखं जरादुःखं जायादुःखं पुनः पुनः ।
संसारसागरः दुःखं तस्मात् जाग्रत जाग्रत ॥
To take birth, one has to undergo a lot of suffering. In His Shivaparadha Kshamapana Stotram, Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada talks about the extent of suffering while in the mother’s womb – आदौ कर्मप्रसङ्गात् कलयति कलुषं मातृकुक्षौ नितान्तम्. In old age, all those around you stop giving you respect because you are not earning (money) any more. These days, people even refuse to talk to them. It has to come to the extent that elderly parents are dropped off in old age homes to be taken care of. Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada talks of the neglect in old age thus –
यावद्वित्तोपार्जनसक्तः तावन्निजपरिवारो रक्तः ।
पश्चात् जीवति जर्जरदेहे वार्तां पृच्छति कोऽपि न गेहे ॥
Even people in wedded life talk about various difficulties that arise. Hence the entire Samsara is a bundle of suffering. That is why it is said that to avoid bondage, one must perform actions dedicating them to the Lord.
The Jagadguru expressed that while every man is ready to teach or give instructions to everyone else, no one is ready to practice. Man’s power to distinguish and reason has to be put to use. Otherwise, what is the use of having obtained this power having taken birth as a human? Hence it is not sufficient to keep talking. One must practice. Hence any worship or any act of Dharma should not be done for receiving praise from others. You will only get a temporary joy for having been mentioned by others or by the newspapers. You will not get Shreyas (spiritual welfare) out of it .
Hence we should perform the actions enjoined in the Shastras without any desire for fruits. A person who goes in this direction will be specially blessed. He strives selflessly with the notion of engaging in Ishwara Seva, Guru Seva and Samaja Seva, and the Lord’s Grace will fall on him bountifully.
Sri Kanchi Maha Periva Thiruvadigal Charanam
O.N. In case this message is not to find in this forum,kindly delete it